Sex for Dummies is intended to give its readers a start on a healthy approach to sexuality by dispelling ignorance--both the not-knowing and the not-caring kind. Despite it being the new millennium, we adults continue to do a lousy job of educating ourselves and our young people about sex.
Part of the reason is that, in Asian culture, we're often embarrassed to talk about sex, especially when it comes to talking with our own flesh and blood. As parents, many of us avoid the subject entirely. Often, even when we do work up the courage to have a heart-to-heart talk with "the kids," we don't do much more than warn our daughters to avoid pregnancy and scare our sons with the threat of sexually transmitted diseases.
While these are certainly important points to cover, where does an adolescent learn about issues of good sexual functioning, such as how to have an orgasm, or how to be the best lover possible? This is where books on human sexuality such as this play their role in sex education.
However, this otherwise excellent primer on human sexuality is marred by a number of inaccuracies that are really quite inexcusable. In the diagram of The innards of the vulva (Figure 3-2) on page 35, the labia minora are incorrectly labelled as the labia majora and the entrance to the vagina is incorrectly labelled as the labia minora.
On page 188, the author devotes a mere three paragraphs to the G-spot before inaccurately concluding that "there has never been any scientifically validated proof that it exists." A grandmother, Dr Ruth K. Westheimer would be well advised to keep up on current literature. For a start, read Beth Krenshaw's Better Sex. Dr Westheimer does admit, however, on Page 4 that she is "old-fashioned and a square."
Dr Westheimer's writing on relationship issues, however, does benefit form her long experience as a mother, grandmother and sex therapist. Much of her advice is pragmatic and makes much sense.
Nota Bene
Recommended Sex Education Guides
See also my comments on the 35-minute documentary Sex education in Malaysia: Are we doing enough? by Lydia Lubon and Ahmad Yazid.
Copyright 2003-2004 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice
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